Young Nigerian Lady bags Bachelors and Masters degree in Architecture on the same day, makes dad and mom proud
On the same day, a young woman called Aisha Janki Akinola received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK.
Born in Nigeria, Aisha Akinola relocated to the UK to continue her education. She received both of her architecture degrees at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, UK.
Before relocating to Ghana for an Advance Levels Program (the second of three standardized British tests in a secondary school topic used as a qualification for university entrance), Aisha completed her high school education at the Federal Government Sokoto, Nigeria.
She received a Mastercard Foundation grant to continue her education a year after finishing her A-level program. She was able to earn both degrees simultaneously by using the Mastercard scholarship to transfer her bachelor’s degree credits to her master’s program.
She posted images from her graduation on her Instagram profile, showcasing her accomplishments and characterizing the triumph as a victory for all of her hardships and hard work in pursuing the degree. She also mentioned that she received the Sir William Darling Memorial Prize for her work at the University promoting the wellbeing of students.
“I just could not afford to fail, so I pursued an MA in architecture with honors from the University of Edinburgh.” From the Mastercard scholarship to my parents’ and my own efforts, too much has gone into this dream,” Aisha remarked.
I bought the architecture degree for myself because I couldn’t afford to let myself down! no matter how difficult it was to obtain. “I got it, and my university’s vice chancellor gave me a high five and the thumbs up,” she continued.
Aisha listed a few of the difficulties she had while attending school in the United Kingdom. She talked of being despondent, having an accident, being devastated, and feeling undecided about her career, yet she persisted in her resolve in the face of all of these challenges.
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“The heartbreaks in 2021, the dissertation in 2022, the accident in 2023, and the depression and COVID in 2020 were all obstacles meant to test my fortitude and resolve to finish this degree,” she said.
“I was my worst critic throughout this journey, and studying architecture didn’t help either because there was always a persistent sense that everyone else knew what they were doing and I didn’t,” Aisha recounted.
Later on, I realized how mistaken I had been! All of us were acting as though we knew what we were doing. Despite our fear, we went ahead and did it,” she continued.
She thanked the Mastercard Foundation for funding her studies in the UK, her parents, the Gambian family who adopted her after she immigrated to the UK, and everyone else who helped her earn the degree.
I am incredibly grateful to my parents for their unwavering support throughout the years. I can’t include everyone in this brief post, including the Mastercard team, my adoptive Gambian family, and my fellow Nigerian MCF scholars. The horrors I subjected them to with my incessant inquiries and cries for assistance,” she stated.
For those who are considering moving overseas, Aisha gave some advice: always venture outside of your comfort zone and make connections with locals. She also urged students who might be feeling weary of their studies to keep going till they succeed.
“If I could give one piece of advice to someone who is moving overseas, it would be to step outside of your comfort zone, make connections, and put yourself out there,” she said.
Aisha is currently a YouTube vlogger, social media influencer, and digital creator. Her channel has millions of subscribers. In addition, she is the creator of the “Black Ed Movement,” an anti-racist group that was established to promote and encourage Black people, especially Black University of Edinburgh students.
